Railway block-signal and switch



PATENTED JAN. 5, 1904.

w. P. TAYLOR, JR. RAILWAY BLOCK SIGNAL AND SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 30, 1903.

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W. F. TAYLOR, JR.

RAILWAY BLOCK SIGNAL AND SWITCH."

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PATBNTED JAN. 5, 1904.

' W. P. TAYLOR, JR.

RAILWAY BLOGK SIGNAL AND SWITCH.

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RAILWAY BLOCK SIGNAL AND SWITCH.

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No. 748,815. PATENTBD JAN. 5, 1904.

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I UNITED STATES Patented January 5, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM F. TAYLOR, .IR., OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO THOMAS D. TAYLOR, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

RAILWAY BLOCK-SIG NAL AND SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 748,815, dated January 5, 1904. Application filed March 30, 1903. Serial No. 150,147. (No model.)

To on whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM,F. TAYLOR, Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing at Providence, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Railway Block-Signals andSwitches, of which the following is a specification. I

This invention relates to railway blocksignals and switches, and contemplates the production of an improved device of this character adapted more especially for use in connection with surface or elevated railways employing either the third-rail, overhead, 0 underground trolley connections.

The primary object of this invention is the provision of switch-throwing mechanism and the means for controlling block-signals by mechanism controllable by electrical devices as distinguished from means of a purely'me chanical character.

A further object of the present inventionlies in the novel means for throwing the signal in the preceding block to clear and the one which the car is just entering to danger, and, if necessary, to operate the switch either to main or shunt, as the contingency requires; By controlling the signal and switch in this manner the several cars as they pursue their course are maintained in their proper relation to each other, and any danger of collisions is thereby avoided.

Further objects and ad vantages will be set forth in the accompanying description and 5 those features upon which I desire protection defined in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which like numeralsvof reference indicate like parts throughout the several views, Figure 1 is a diagrammatical view of a portion of the track with the arrangement of the wires for operating the respective signals indicated thereon by broken lines. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the switch-casing mechanism, the adjacent wayside posts, and the trolley-pole,

the same engaging the overhead contacts for operating the signals- Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view of the main track and siding and showing the relative arrangement of the switch-point-throwing mechanism thereto.

Fig. 4 is a view in side elevation of the forward portion of the car, illustrating more clearly the manner in which acircuit is completed with-the contacts of the road-bed for operating the switch-tongue. Fig. 5 isend elevation thereof. Fig. 6 is top plan viewof the semaphore-arm and the casings secured to the wayside posts for elevating and lowering said arm. Fig. 7 is a sectional view through the casing containing the releasing mechanism and the adjacent portion of the semaphorearm. Fig. 8 is a side view of the actuatingmechanism casing. Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view of the semaphore-arm and showing in front elevation the latch mechanism carried thereby. Fig. 10 is a detail View of the bracket for supporting the overhead devices. Fig. 11 is a top plan view of the releasing mechanism. Figs. 12 and 13 are detailed views, and Fig. 14: is a fragmentary view, of the wayside post and showing the arrangement'of the semaphore-arm and the armraising mechanism thereto with the cover of the casing. containingthe latter removed.

1 indicates the rails of the main track, and 7 5 2 thebranch track-rails,- to the inner of one of which rails is pivoted the switch-tongue 3.

4 indicates the casing,arranged beneath the switch-point, the same being adapted to contain the switch-controlling mechanism and being of waterproof construction. I will now proceed to. describe this mechanism.

- 5 indicates an arm pivotally mounted in the casing 4:, as at 6, and having its inner end pivoted to the switch-tongue and its outer end provided witha roller 7, which isadapted to engage-the bottom of the casing& and support the said arm as it is swung. 8 indicates a second arm secured to the first-named arm at a'point approximately central of its length and extending at right angles thereto, whereby the rollers 9, mounted on the opposite ends thereof, will alternately engage the pronged or star wheels 10, carried by the shafts 11. The opposite ends of these shafts are provided with thesmall gear-wheels or pinions 12, which through the medium of intermediate pinions 13 and end pinions 14 are rotated by the motors 15. It will thus be obvious that as the shafts 11 are rotated in the manner stated to:

that the star-wheels 10, engaging the rollers 9, will swing the arm 8, so that the arm 5 will Pivoted to the car is a depending arm 21,

carrying at its lower end the rotary shoe 22, which shoe is similar in construction to the contacts or shoes of the road-bed, the same comprising a pair of metallic disks insulated apart.

23 indicates a cord or chain which passes over suitable pulleys provided therefor and.

has its end secured to the said arm 21 and the shaft 24, whereby as the motorman revolves the shaft through the medium of the handle 25 the said cord will be wound or unwound,so as to alter the position of the arm 21.

26 indicates the trolley-pole. While this pole is of novel construction and performs the functions properly, yet it will be apparent that other forms of trolley-poles could be substituted in lieu thereof.

27 indicates the wheel journaled in the harp of the pole, 28 the trolley-wire engaged thereby, and 29 the feed-Wire leading to the motor-controller box 30 on the cab.

31 and 32 indicate a pair of auxiliary arms carried by the trolley-pole and having journaled in their upper ends rollers 33, which are adapted to engage the elevated shoes 34, carried by the bracket 35. The shoe-supporting bracket is preferably of rigid construct-ion and is supported at a point directly above the track by means of stay-wires 36, the outer ends of which are secured to the post 37. i

38 indicates the controller for the switch and signal operating mechanism and is preferably of any well-known construction. 39 indicates the feed-wire thereof, which is connected to the feed-wire 29 of the controller 30.

'40 and 41 indicate contacts adapted to be successively engaged by the controller-arm 42, so as to complete circuits through wires 43 and 44, which are arranged in the trolleypole and contact with the wheels or shoes of the arms 31 and 32 and thence through the overhead stationary shoes 34, wires 45, signaloperating mechanism, and then to ground, as will be apparent in view of the following detailed description of the semaphore-arm raising and releasing mechanism.

The elevating mechanism for the semaphore-arm is mounted upon one of the waysideposts at a point adjacent the stay-wires 36 and comprises a motor 50, having mounted upon its shaft a pinion 51, which meshes with a pinion 52, carried on the shaft 53. This latter shaft projects through the wall of the inclosing casing 54 of the mechanism and carries at its outer end a wheel 55. This wheel is adapted to engage the laterally-extending rod or arm 56 of the semaphore-arm 57 and is formed with a series of radial teeth, which when the shaft 53 is rotated engage the aforementioned rod 56, and hence moves the semaphore-arm to danger. As the semaphorearm is moved upward to occupy the danger position the spring-pressed bolt 59, carried thereby, engages the swinging latch 60 and after passing thereabove is prevented from dropping thereby. The swinginglatch is provided with rearwardly-extending portion 61, which is normally prevented from inward movement by means of the stop 62, rigidly secured to the shaft 63.

64 indicates a pair of electromagnets which when energized attract the rear end of the pivoted armature 65, and as the armature is thus moved its forward end is moved out of engagement with the stop 62, which is in turn released, and the latch 60 is permitted to swing inward and disengage itself from the bolt 59 of the semaphore-arm, whereupon the said arm will be permitted by gravity to occupy aclear position. Aspring 80, mounted in the casing, contacts with the rear of the swinging latch. The casing containing this releasing mechanism is arranged on the wayside post at a point opposite to the casing 54, as is clearly illustrated in Fig. 6.

Assuming for purposes of illustration that the car is entering a new block, the motorman therefore wants to indicate to the succeeding car that he has reached the end of the block just passed, and he therefore as the car passes beneath the overhead bracket 35, with the shoes 33 in engagement with the shoes 34, moves the controller-arm 42 to engage the contact 40, which permits the-current to pass from the trolley-wire 28 through the wires 29 and 39 to the controller-arm 42, through contact 40, wire 44, contact-shoe 34, thence through motor 50 of the adjacent signal-arm-raising mechanism, thence through wire 67 to the electromagnets 64 of the releasing mechanism of the signal-arm of the sig nal of the last block, and thence through wire 68 to ground.

The means thus described may operate the road-bed switches as efliciently as does the following outlined road-bed connection means.

It is to be understood that the contact 40 completes the circuit through one motor, while the contact 41 completes a circuit through the other switch-motor.

After the car has passed the overhead contacts or shoes, as just described, and the shoes of the road-bed are encountered and if it is desired to continue on the main line or pass over to the siding the controller 42 may be again moved so as to engage one or the other of the contacts 40 and 41. One of the disks is connected by the wire 70 through the wire 44 to the contact 40, while the other disk is connected by the wire 69 through the wire 43 to the contact 41, controller-arm 42,

IIO

wire 39, wire 29 to trolley. The wires 43 and 44 carry the current 1 to each of the overhead shoes, as will be understood from Fig. 2. The current will pass from the trolleywire through wires 29 39, controller-arm 42,

contact 40, wires 44 70, a disk 22, a plate 16 or 17 of the road-bed shoes,and thence through the wire 19 or 20 to the motor 15 of the switch-throwing mechanism, whereby the same will rotate or oscillate the aunt, as heretofore described.

73 and 74 indicate the ground-wires of the respective motors 15.

In Fig. 2 I have illustrated the overhead bracket carrying the contact-shoes and the switch mechanism.

The arms 31 while contacting with its plate or shoe simultaneously is not employed for operating the signal mechanism on the outward trip; but on the return trip the controller-lever is swung to contact 41 and the circuit is completed through the wire'extending through the arm 31 for operating the siglieved clearly defines the operation of the respective mechanisms.

In the foregoing description I have described what I believe at the present time'a device which embodies the details that will work to produce a device not only practical, but embodying a comparatively simple construction, and it will be apparent that in the future I may find through experience that minor changes will be necessitated, and I therefore reserve the right to make such alterations and changes as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In combined switch and signal operating mechanism, the combination with the signals and the switches, switch-motors, road-contacts connected with said switch-motormadjustable switch-shoe contacts on the car, and signal-contacts connected with the signal-opcrating mechanism, of signal-shoe contacts on the car and means carried by the car for connecting the various car-shoes with a source of energy.

2. The combination with a series of signals and motor switches, of road-contacts connected with the switchmotors, adjustable switch-shoe contacts on the car, signal-shoe contacts on the car, signal-con tacts con nected with the signal-operating mechanism, and

means carried by the car adapted to complete the circuits to the switch-motors, and to complete a circuit to operate one signal to danger and simultaneously move the preceding one to clear.

3. The combination with the signals and the elevating and releasing means thereof, of car-contacts included in a circuit in which the elevating mechanism of one signal and the releasing mechanism of another signalis included, switch-motors, road-contacts connected with said switch-motors, means carried by the car for engagement with said roadcontacts, and means on the car connecting the various car-contacts with a source of energy.

4. The combination with the signals and switches, of theindependent circuits in which the switchoperating mechanism and signaloperating mechanism are included, contacts arranged adjacentthe track, and included in the respective circuits, means carried by the car for engagement with the contacts for completing the respective circuits independently of each other, and a switch-controlling arm governing the connections to the switchoperating and signal-operating mechanisms. 5. The combination with the signals, the elevating and releasing means thereof, the switches, and the operating mechanism thereof, of circuits having contact-shoes included therein, the mechanism for the respective switches and signals being included in independent circuits, a controller carried by the ear, and electrical connections, whereby as the controller is operated the respective circuits can be operated independently.

6. In combined signals and switches, a series of signals and switches, contacts in the circuit with the signal-operating mechanism,

contacts in circuit with the switch-operating,

mechanism, in combination with the controller carried by the car, shoes carried by the car, certain of which are adapted tocontact with the first-named contacts, and others to engage the switch-contacts, connections between the controller and the first-named shoes, and electrical connections between the last-named shoes and the controller.

7. In combination with the signals, the mechanism for raising and lowering the same, and the switches and their operating mechanism, and a controller connected to a source of energy and governing the connections to the signal -operating and switch-operating mechanisms.

8. The combination with a signal, a switch and the electrical means for actuating the same, of contacts arranged in the road-bed and in circuit with the switch-controlling means, contacts arranged above and to one side of the first-named contacts, said lastnamed contacts being in circuit with the signaling means, shoes carried by the car for engagement with the signal-contacts, shoes for energizing the switch-contacts, and a controller in circuit with the last-named shoes,

and a connection from said controller and the signal-shoes.

9. The combination with the car and the pole thereof, of the controller, shoes mounted on thepole, wires leading from the shoes to contacts on the controller, a depending arm carried by the car, a shoe carried by the said arm, said shoe being composed of a pair of disks insulated apart, wires connecting with the said disks and being secured to the wires of the first-named shoes, a switch mechanism, and a signaling means adapted to be operated as the shoes carried by the car are moved to a predetermined position.

10. In combination with the signals and the switches, and the contacts in circuit therewith, the controller carried by the car, shoes, two sets of wires leading from the shoes to the controller, there being separate shoes and contacts for the signals and switches, and circuits governed by the controller for actuating either the signals or the switches as the respective shoes of the car contact with the first-named shoes.

11. In a block system, the combination of a switch-tongue, two independent motors, a controller governing the switch-operating and signal-operating mechanisms,contacts adapted to be successively engaged by said controller, a series of signals, signal-contacts, and electrical connections whereby as one signal is operated to danger the preceding one is simultaneously and automatically moved to clear.

12. In a block system, the combination with the signals and the switches, and the contacts in circuit therewith, of a controller, switchshoes carried by the car, the trolley-pole, auxiliary arms on the trolley-pole and carrying rollers, contacts in position to be engaged by said rollers, contacts-in position to be successively engaged by said controller, said controller and means governing the connections to the auxiliary trolley-rollers and to the switch-shoes.

13. In a block system, the combination with the signals and the switches, and the contacts in circuit therewith, of a controller, switchshoes carried by the car, the trolley-pole, auxiliary arms on the trolley-pole and carrying rollers, contacts in position to be engaged by said rollers, contacts in position to be successively engaged by said controller, said controller and means governing the connections to the auxiliary rollers and to the switch-shoes, signal-arm-raising mechanism, a motor controlling the same, and automatic releasing mechanism.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM F. TAYLOR, JR.

Witnesses:

THOMAS D. TAYLOR, HORATIO E. BELLOWS. 

